Some of this requires explanation - a radiation
oncologist is a medical specialist who deals (almost) exclusively with
cancer patients and uses 'radiation' as his treatment modality. I say
'radiation' because the major amount of treatment uses x-rays (or "photons" as we like to call them!), but there is also a decent proportion treated with electrons. I won't labour the difference, you can look it up!

So you are wondering - what I had to do to be a radiation
oncologist? No? Tough! I had to go to medical school (5 years), then be
an intern (1 year), resident (2.5 years), registrar (5.5 years). So how
long have I been at school? Primary (6 years), Secondary (6 years),
science degree (3 years), education diploma (1 year), school teaching
(7 years) ... then the medicine!

So the journey has been long and varied, starting with
secondary science teacher training and 7 years in the country (teaching
at Oaklands Central School (where's that!!?) and Leeton High School (and where's that!!?), for those interested). Medical training followed at the then innovative problem-based learning course at Newcastle University,
where I got married and started having children (n=6!). After
completing radiation oncology training at Newcastle and Sydney (RNSH
and St George hospitals), in 1997, I uprooted the family and crossed
the Tasman Sea (look to the east, its just there!) and spent 6 years in
the green & blue of regional New Zealand where I succeeded
(failed??) to the position of Head of Department.

It is tempting to think that a lot of time was wasted
before getting to the main game, but in fact, all those previous
experiences are responsible for getting me here and involved in
Informatics. All professionals have a 'flavour', and the education and
late medical start are a very distinct 'flavour' in my medical career.
Mainly my thinking was not socialised into a medical mould because much
of that had been done earlier. So if you are interested in medicine and
you have already been through one career - it's not too late and later
on you will be special because of the experience!

In 2004 the whole family returned home to Australia and
settled in Goulburn. From there I undertook locums positions (Sydney,
Halifax NS, Townsville, Bendigo) and tried to develop a consultancy
business before finally returning to clinical medicine in late 2005.

It is important to have a hobby, especially as a doctor.
The job can be more than full time, so a hobby can be difficult to
develop and maintain. My hobby is computing and I am a lover of Open
Source software, it is unwise to discuss Windows near me. Linux! that's
the go.

Unfortunately, this page is static, but the links on the
left contain other more dynamic information that relates to research
and activities.